A rights advocacy group, the
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, has called on the
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar
Malami (SAN), to reopen the unresolved case of the “missing $12.4bn oil
windfall.”
SERAP urged Malami to use his office and
power under Section 174(1) of the Constitution and sections 104-106 of
the Administration of Criminal Justice Act to establish the truth about
what happened to the money and to prosecute anyone found culpable.
The group made the call in an open letter by its Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, to the AGF on Sunday.
The letter read, “SERAP, has for many
years, sought explanation and official release of the Pius Okigbo panel
report, which the government voluntarily established. But successive
administration blocked every chance to officially release the Okigbo
Report with some even claiming that the report could not be found.
“SERAP’s request is entirely consistent
with the established legal principle that in matters relating to crimes,
including corruption, time does not run against the state.
“Reopening the case would also send a
clear message that cases of high-level official corruption would not go
unpunished no matter how long it takes and that suspected perpetrators
would be held to account, no matter who is involved.
“SERAP also believes that reopening the
unresolved case of missing $12.4bn oil windfall would serve as a litmus
test for the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari often repeated
commitments to transparency, accountability and the fight against
corruption in the country.
“Full accountability for the missing
public funds would contribute to ending impunity of high-ranking public
officials for large-scale corruption and provide effective remedies to
victims of corruption.”
Punch
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